Weekend property auctions cancelled as Alfred makes landfall

Residential property auctions have now been cancelled across multiple councils in the path of cyclone Alfred, with not even online auctions to go ahead as millions ride out the storm.

Cyclone Alfred off the east coast of Australia. Picture: Windy

The approaching Cyclone Alfred has caused real estate agents across Brisbane and South-East Queensland to cancel a huge number of Saturday’s upcoming auctions.

Place Estate Agents has postponed all the company’s auctions across the city, after a delay in the cyclone changed the estimated landfall date to Saturday.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred has been predicted to hit South-East Queensland on Saturday morning. Photo: Bureau of Meteorology

Place Estate Agents Chief Auctioneer Peter Burgin said his team had “a firm plan in place” with weather conditions worsening over the weekend, and would follow government advice.

“No one can predict what this weather pattern may or may not do,” he said. “It’s hard to sit there and second-guess what may happen.”

Mr Burgin advised checking in with the agent of the property you are interested in buying to know the latest details.

Director of Apollo Auctions Justin Nickerson said most of his team’s auctions had been postponed for the weekend, save for a select few which considered staying as online-only events.

“A lot of them have simply postponed, with a reassessment period from Monday,” he said.

The Friday auction for the shopping centre at 67-71 Wilgarning St, Stafford Heights, was delayed until next Thursday.

It’s been decades since a tropical cyclone made landfall the region, and is expected to be the worst weather event in SEQ in decades. Picture: NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

Ray White has announced all the company’s Brisbane auctions were either postponed to a later date, or happened online earlier in the week.

Ray White Queensland CEO Jason Andrew said on Tuesday most teams across the company were either pursuing a switch to online auctions, or delaying the events to a later date.

“Our strong advice that we are giving to our leaders is that they should look online or consider the possibility of postponing,” he said.

Mr Andrew said with 120 of its divisions and 60 per cent of its members in the cyclone’s trajectory, Ray White Queensland’s first priority would be “the safety of all of our staff”.

93 Creek Rd, Mount Gravatt East, up for sale with Ray White AKG. All Ray White businesses have postponed events for the weekend across Brisbane.

“We’re quite fortunate that [we’re working with] some subject matter experts,” he said. “A lot of our businesses up in North Queensland have been dealing with cyclone after cyclone.”

He added the company’s teams were checking in with property owners and tenants across the area, along with sign board companies to try and remove “For Sale” signs to prevent a risk of damage.

Wilston and New Farm agents plan to hold their auctions at in-room events on Thursday, March 13.

Some like Ray White Chief Auctioneer Gavin Croft had already cancelled most of their auctions for the weekend on Tuesday.

67 Brinawa St, Camp Hill, for sale with Place Camp Hill. Place Estate Agents auctions over the weekend have all been postponed.

Ray White Commercial has also cancelled the auction for 67-71 Wilgarning St, Stafford Heights. Initially set to go to auction on Friday, the retail centre’s auction will now take place on March 13.

Mr Andrew said many Ray White teams were initially in a “wait and see” stage earlier in the week. Ray White Collective, Ascot and Wilston teams were initially going ahead with auctions earlier in the week, while staying flexible in case a change was needed.

Updates on auctions across Brisbane and SEQ to come.

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